Pakistan, Nepal Urged to Unite for Stronger Climate Action

News Desk 

Islamabad: Chief Executive of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), Anil Pokhrel, has called on the governments of Pakistan and Nepal to unite and advocate for effective climate action at global climate forums.

Pokhrel emphasized the need for collaborative efforts between Pakistan and Nepal at international forums to urge the global community to ensure accessible climate finance for developing countries suffering from the adverse impacts of climate change.

In an exclusive interview with the media during a regional climate dialogue, Pokhrel highlighted that Pakistan and Nepal share the same Hindukush Himalaya region, which is characterized by similar landscapes and monsoon patterns, as well as common hazards such as earthquakes, forest fires, floods, and landslides.

He expressed the NDRRMA’s interest in learning from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) of Pakistan, especially in terms of their experiences with climatic disasters and opportunities for experience sharing.

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Pokhrel noted that Nepal has been addressing hazards from a singular perspective and has been missing inter-sectoral links. He cited examples such as glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF) and the weakening of glacial lakes and moraine dams due to accelerated melting.

The 2005 earthquake in Muzaffarabad, he pointed out, demonstrated the potential for even greater devastation if such an event were to occur during the monsoon season, exacerbated by increasing chances of glacial lake explosions.

The NDRRMA chief also highlighted that forest fires are exacerbating GLOF activity, as the blackened surfaces absorb more heat and accelerate melting, with permafrost melting faster across the Hindukush Himalaya region.

“We need to start addressing the intersectionality and complexity of disasters, which can lead to larger downstream devastations,” Pokhrel said.

He criticized the longstanding debate over greenhouse gas emissions, asserting that countries like Nepal and Pakistan, which face similar risks, should come together as a unified voice to negotiate more effectively at forums such as COP29, which will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan.

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Pokhrel stressed that both countries should present their shared experiences of the hazards and risks posed by global warming and climate change, driven by historical emissions from developed nations, which are contributing to glacial melt, droughts, and forest fires in the region.

He called for an international finance structure that is substantial, swift, and directly accessible to climate-vulnerable countries for recovery and reconstruction post-disasters.

Regarding mega dam construction in disaster-prone fault lines, Pokhrel noted that while science and technology around dam construction have advanced, there remains a need for rigorous risk assessments, long-term monitoring, and disaster preparedness.

Such projects should include early warning systems and insurance to address potential failures, and their design should account for extreme events like earthquakes, debris flows, GLOFs, and forest fires.